Batestown United Methodist Church will have a cookie walk from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at The Gathering Place at the church, Batestown Road and Henning Road.

Mix and match homemade cookies, candy and other goodies for $5 per pound.

The Rock Church, 20 Poland Road, will offer its Hope Angel Food program. You may order regular box menu for $30.

The order dates are 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4 and 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. The pickup day is Dec. 20.

For further information, call 443-4559. You need to come in person and pre-pay your order. Cash and link cards are accepted.

First Presbyterian Church, 100 N. Franklin St., will have a chili dinner from 3-6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, prior to the Night of Lights Holiday Parade.

 Take-out will be available. Advance tickets are $4 for adults, $2 for children ages 2-10, and free to children younger than 2. Tickets at the door are $4.50 for adults and $2.50 for children ages 2-10.

New Jerusalem Church of Jesus Christ Outreach Ministry will sponsor a Thanksgiving dinner for senior citizens and the homeless from noon to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at the church, 1033 N. Walnut St.

Call 446-2830 between 10-10:30 a.m. for delivery. Pick up or delivery available between noon and 2:30 p.m.

The Immanuel Lutheran Church Women’s Guild will present its Drummer Boy bazaar from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11 in the gym at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1930 N. Bowman Ave.

A barbecue luncheon, served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., includes barbecue, baked beans, cole slaw, potato chips, coffee, ice tea and desserts. The lunch donation is $7 for adults and $3 for children younger than 12. There will be an express line for those on a lunch hour. Carry out will be available.

The bazaar will feature the following booths: Country Store, Attic Treasures, Sweet Shoppe, Stitch ‘N Sew, Woodworking Shop and Silent Auction Booth.

The Rock Church, 20 Poland Road, will offer its Hope Angel Food program. You may order regular box menu for $30, senior/convenience box for $28 and Thanksgiving dinner box for $30.

The order dates are 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6 and 9-10:30 a.m. Nov. 8. You must pick up your food on food distribution day Nov. 22. Call 443-4559 after Nov. 19 for pick up time. Any food left unclaimed after this time will be donated to others in need. When you pick up your food, you must bring an empty box (to fill) for each “regular box” ordered.)

For further information, call 443-4559. You need to come in person and pre-pay your order. Cash and link cards are accepted.

The annual Walsingham Festival, an ecumenical spiritual pilgrimage to “England’s Nazareth,” will be at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26 at the Church of the Holy Trinity Episcopal, 308 N. Vermilion St.

The celebration will feature Father Tim Sauppe of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Westville as the homilist. He is working on his doctorate in Maryology. A buffet reception will follow. All are invited.

The Vermilion Heights Christian Church will sponsor a coat drive for all ages from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at the church, 725 Oakwood Ave.

There will be coats, hats, gloves, mittens and scarves. The only requirement to get a coat is to come in person. Volunteers will be on hand to help everyone get fitted properly.

If you have a clean coat to donate, drop it off on a hanger at the church between Oct. 26 and Nov. 2.

The Carter Metropolitan Christian Methodist Episcopal Church will have its 33rd annual Mammoth, Tea and Concert from 4-6 p.m. Illinois time at the Beef House Banquet Center near Covington, Ind.

The event is a Christian social gathering. Vocalist Amanda Henderson is the featured artist. She is from Anna and most recently served as director of the Sanctuary Choir, Mass Choir and AVOW (youth choir) at Second Baptist Church in Danville. She is currently a member of Phaze II and Elder Stephen Robinson & Ministry of Muzic. Tickets are $25 per ticket. The Rev. Brenda Brown and Carmen Pittman are the co-chairpersons. The Rev. Roland Brown is the host pastor. For tickets, call 442-8498 or 443-2364.

 

Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church will have a food bazaar at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 at the church, 503 N. Jackson St. There also will be a bake sale and annual coat giveaway.

The menu includes: catfish dinners, $7, barbecue rib tips $7, barbecue pork butt sandwich and dinner $5 and $6, chitterlings dinners $8 and chicken and dumplings $5. Side dishes include spaghetti, cole slaw and corn bread. Baked goods will be available. For delivery, call 446-5133.

Central Christian Church will have a bazaar from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 1 at the church, 1101 N. Vermilion St.

The Christian Women’s Fellowship will host its fall turkey dinner with all the trimmings from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $7 for adults and children younger than 12 are $3.

A cookie walk and bake sale are planned. Blood pressure readings will be available from 10-11 a.m. Tickets can be purchased from CWF members or at the door.

 

The Cornerstone Christian Church will have a trunk or treat and fall fest from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 29 at the church, 1607 Greenwood Cemetery Road.

All elementary age children are invited. There will be candy, food and party games.

To get to the church, take 14th Street east and turn right on Greenwood Cemetery Road or take East Ross Lane and turn left on Greenwood Cemetery Road.

Carter Metropolitan Christian Methodist Episcopal Church will have a rummage sale from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 18 at the church, 448 E. Williams St.

The proceeds will benefit the youth fellowship group.

A chili supper and bake sale will be from 4-7 p.m. Oct. 18, at The Gathering Place at Batestown United Methodist Church, 2224 Batestown Road.

For those who might not like chili, homemade vegetable soup will be served along with hot dog or pork barbecue and homemade dessert. There will be a free will offering. All proceeds will go to purchase the church’s Field of Dreams.

 

The United Methodist Women will have a holiday bazaar/bake sale and chicken and noodle dinner from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24, at the First United Methodist Church, 1400 N. Vermilion St.

The meal will be from 4-6:30 p.m. and includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, vegetables, bread, salad, homemade desserts and beverages. Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 4-10 years old. Carry out will be available. Tickets will be at the door or in advance from members of United Methodist Women. The proceeds will be used to fund various charitable activities of the United Methodist Church Women.

The Evangelical Church ladies will have a craft and bake sale at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 at the church, 1218 W. Williams St.

The proceeds will be help two missionaries; one in Mexico and one in Bolivia.

Union Corner United Methodist Church will host its annual soup supper and bake sale from 4-7 p.m. Oct. 11 at the church, 14158 Perrysville Road.

Chili, vegetable soup, hot dogs, barbecue sandwiches, dessert and drink will be served. Free will offerings will be accepted. Bake sale items also will be available.

The Rock Church, 20 Poland Road, will offer its Hope Angel Food program. You may order regular box menu for $30.

The order dates are 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9 and 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. The pickup day is Oct. 25.

For further information, call 443-4559. You need to come in person and pre-pay your order. Cash and link cards are accepted.

The children in the traveling African Children’s Choir get the opportunity to see places they’ve only dreamed about and a shot at a better education.
But local churches who host the choir get plenty out of the deal.
“This is a highlight of our year,” said David Anderson, pastor of Danville’s First Church of the Nazarene, 2212 N. Vermilion St., which is sponsoring a performance of the choir at 7 p.m. Oct. 21. “It’s really an incredible experience and we absolutely love having them here.”
The choir formed in 1984 and has been comprised of children from several African countries, many of whom have grown losing one or more parents in war-torn regions there. They are selected through “Music for Life” camps and this year’s choir members are from Kenya.
According to literature from the group, money donated to the organization is used to support the camps and a host of schools and educational programs throughout those regions. Those picked for the choir tour the world for a year, including stops at dozens of churches in the United States, to earn educational opportunities when they return. A new group is selected for next year’s tour.
“Our sadness is in saying goodbye to the children we loved so deeply was tempered with hope,” said “Auntie” Elizabeth Brunelle, a choir teacher and chaperone for the tour, in a press release. “We look forward to finding out how these children make a difference in Africa.”
African Children’s Choir officials did not return requests for an interview in time for this story. The group’s Web site is http://www.africanchildrenschoir.com/.
Anderson said the charity is not only reputable, but world-renown, with its performances at major functions and television performances, and links to well-known celebrities supporting African causes.
“They’ve been in Danville before and this is the second or third time we’ve had them here,” Anderson said. “They school these kids and they get sponsors for other children. I’ve been a sponsor myself for several years.”
A former church music director, Anderson said the musical quality of the choir’s performance, which uses authentic African instruments and musical styles, is always top-notch. The presentation, with choir members wearing traditional African garb, is equally impressive, he added.
Anderson said the church’s work with the choir is also in tune with its emphasis on missions work.
“(The Nazarene denomination) is a global church and we have missionaries all over the world,” he said. “We do our best to make people aware of what’s happening in other parts of the world.”
The African Choir program brings that world right into local parishioners living rooms as they are asked to “put up” choir members during their stay in Danville. Anderson said the church never has problem getting volunteers to open their homes for children and their
chaperones.
“We’ve kept them so many times, I never have a problem getting volunteers,” he said. “It’s been an incredible experience. Their mission is to get into all of the churches across America.”
Anderson said the group was “very strict” in the rules used for the children staying in local homes.
Host families are asked to have a family-oriented activity that promotes interaction with the children and a learning experience as opposed to a place to stay overnight. If the group has to stay the following day due to scheduling, they set up an impromptu “school” at the host church to keep the students current in their
studies.
“While they’re in your home, they’re not allowed to watch TV or play video games or anything,” he said. “We’ve kept kids every time and it’s been a great community kind of thing. Some of these kids come from some pretty difficult situations and they’ve some pretty high-powered things. It’s nice to know we can help a little.”
The Oct. 21 program is free of charge, though donations will be accepted. There will also be opportunities to sponsor an African child’s education through the program, something Anderson said costs around $25 a month.

The flower guild of the Allen Chapel AME Church, 503 N. Jackson St., will celebrate its 63rd anniversary at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28 in the church auditorium.

The public is invited.

Word of Life Mt. Zion Ministries will sell catfish dinners beginning at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 19 at the church, 1535 E. Fairchild St.

Catfish dinners will be served with spaghetti, cole slaw and dessert for $8.

Danville Evangelical Church will have a spaghetti dinner from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 at the church, 1218 W. Williams St

The menu will include spaghetti, salad, drink and dessert. The cost is $5 for adults, $2.50 for ages 12-3 and free for children under 3. The dinner will be open to the public.

The Rock Church, 20 Poland Road, will offer its Hope Angel Food program. You may order regular box menu for $30.

The order dates are 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11 and 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. The pickup day is Sept. 27.

For further information, call 443-4559. You need to come in person and pre-pay your order. Cash and link cards are accepted.

The Rock Church, 20 Poland Road, will offer its Hope Angel Food program. You may order regular box menu for $30.

The order dates are 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11 and 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. The pickup day is Sept. 27.

For further information, call 443-4559. You need to come in person and pre-pay your order. Cash and link cards are accepted.

 

Greater Shiloh Baptist Church will hold the Men in Action Conference and 50th annual Men’s Day celebration Friday through Sunday, Aug. 29-31, at the church, 609 N. Bowman Ave.

The conference leader will be Dr. Rodgers Jackson, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Chicago. The workshop and conference will be from 7-8:30 p.m. Friday and 9-11 a.m. Saturday.

Rogers will speak at 10:30 a.m. Sunday for the Men’s Day Celebration.

The workshop presentations are: “Man Up! Play Your Position,” “Men Fulfilling Their Mission,” and “Men Fulfilling Their Ministry.”

The conference fee is $10. To pre-register, call 446-5502. On-site registration is $15. The fee includes the Friday and Saturday workshops, Saturday fellowship luncheon and workshop material (available for purchase).

Word of Life Mt. Zion Church will sell catfish and chicken wing dinners beginning at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29 at the church, 1535 E. Fairchild St.

Catfish dinners will be served with spaghetti, cole slaw and dessert for $8.

Chicken wing dinners will be served with green beans, potato salad and dessert for $7.50.

Holiday Hills Free Methodist Church will have a chili dinner fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 27 at the church, 1700 N. Bowman Ave.

The cost is $6 and includes chili and other side dishes. Carryout will be available. The proceeds will be used to further church ministry opportunities.

The United Methodist Women will have a roast beef dinner from 4-7 p.m. Sept. 12 at the First United Methodist Church, 1400 N. Vermilion St.

The menu is roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, bread, salad, homemade desserts and beverages. The donation is $8 for adults and $4 for children younger than 12. Carry out will be available. The proceeds will be used to fund UMW charitable activities.

Word of Life Mt. Zion Church will have a variety lunch of dinners and sandwiches beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23 at the church, 1535 E. Fairchild St.

The menu includes polish sausage, fried chicken wings and cat fish and sides. Thedonation is $7.  Call in orders are welcome for four or more orders for delivery by calling 442-7769.

Word of Life Mt. Zion Church will sell catfish and chicken wing dinners beginning at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22 at the church, 1535 E. Fairchild St.

Catfish dinners will be served with spaghetti, cole slaw and dessert for $8.

Chicken wing dinners will be served with green beans, potato  salad and dessert for $7.50.

 

Maranatha Fellowship House of Prayer will begin services Sunday at its new location, 401 N. Gilbert St.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m.